‘An easy yes’: Yankees pick up Severino’s club option for '23
This browser does not support the video element.
NEW YORK -- Picking up Luis Severino’s $15 million option for 2023 was “an easy yes,” according to Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, a decision that the club made official on Monday.
“He’s been a really impactful pitcher, so the answer to that would be an easy yes,” Cashman said on Friday at Yankee Stadium.
Severino, who will be 29 by Opening Day, projects to slot behind ace Gerrit Cole at the front of a Yankees rotation that will also include Nestor Cortes and Frankie Montas. Severino was 7-3 with a 3.18 ERA in 19 starts this past season, striking out 112 batters against 30 walks over 102 innings.
Opponents batted .196/.263/.353 against Severino, who allowed three earned runs or fewer in 15 of his 19 regular season starts. The Yankees were 13-6 in those starts.
Severino made two starts in this year’s postseason, both losses for the Yankees. The right-hander held the Guardians to three runs over 5 2/3 innings in Game 3 of the American League Division Series, taking a no-decision in New York’s 6-5 loss in Cleveland.
This browser does not support the video element.
He took the loss in Game 2 of the AL Championship Series against the Astros in Houston, permitting a three-run homer by Alex Bregman in a 5 1/3-inning effort.
A two-time AL All-Star (2017-18), Severino is 50-29 with a 3.39 ERA over 122 big league games (107 starts) from 2015-22. Severino’s ’23 option is part of a four-year, $40 million contract extension signed prior to the 2018 season.